The Yamaha PSR-E273 and the Casio CT-S200 are both keyboards with very similar specifications and are priced around the same range. Due to its similarities, it can be difficult to make a decision between the two. In this article, we will be making an in-depth comparison of the two to help you determine which keyboard is best suited to your needs and objectives. We will be pitting the two against each other in terms of its features (voices, styles, interface, chord modes, effects, panel sustain, USB MIDI connection, user registration setting and speaker amplification) and the overall look of the keyboard (colours and textures).
Without further ado, let's first take a look at the Yamaha PSR-E273,
Compare:
Keyboard #1
$130 USD
Launched in January 2020, Yamaha released their entry-level, 61 keys Yamaha PSR-E273. The Yamaha PSR-E273 has 401 voices, 32 notes of polyphony, and it uses their AWM sampling technology which sounds more expressive, lush and rich when it comes to acoustic instrument voices such as saxophones, flutes, harmonicas and guitars. The lush sounds are done justice by the pair of 5W speakers found on both sides on the PSR-E273. Yamaha also offers 143 different styles and they are well-programmed and provides smoother transitions between different rhythm variations and rhythmic fields. The rhythms also sound more groovy and more contemporary. It also comes with not just 9 reverbs, but also 5 choruses, 6 master EQ settings, and 3 ultra-wide stereo modes. Furthermore, the new user interface, coupled with a large LCD screen, and many of the features such as the "Num Lock" feature on the Yamaha PSR-E273 is considered a huge advantage here in comparing the two keyboards.
However, the Yamaha PSR-E273 only has 2 chords, the multi-fingered mode and the smart chord mode and also, it does not have a dance music mode unlike the Casio CT-S200. On the PSR-E273, you would also have to spend time and effort to dwell deep into the function menu to activate the panel sustain feature which does not make it very convenient in terms of usability. In addition, even though you get a lot of different voices and rhythms to play with, the Yamaha does not provide any way to memorise and recall the settings you painstakingly set up. This means that the voice would return to the default setting every time you turn off the power of the keyboard. Another unfortunate thing about the PSR-E273 is that it does not have a USB MIDI connection. With loads of software and sound libraries available via MIDI, the Yamaha PSR-E273 definitely misses out on a lot of potential possibilities. The keys on the Yamaha PSR-E273 are also made of glossy, hard plastic, which makes the fingers slip while playing certain fast challenges. Last but not the least, the Yamaha PSR-E273 also only has one colour option available and it does not allow for you to pick and choose whatever you like.
To sum up this keyboard,
Keyboard #2
$109 USD
The Casio CT-S200 started out with quite a lot of interest when it was announced in July 2019 because it had big shoes to fill with the CasioTone brand. The CasioTone CT-S200 has 400 voices, 48 notes of polyphony, 77 rhythms, 10 reverb effects and a dance music mode that comes with 50 different dance music patterns and 12 realistic DJ voices. The dance music mode proves to be a fun feature for the younger generation who aspire to make music using sequences and effects like a club DJ. The keys on the Casio CT-S200 are also of a matte texture which prevents fingers from slipping which makes for a better playing experience. The keyboard also has a staggering 6 chord modes, including the more advanced finger on bass and full range keyboard detection which certainly supersedes the 2 chord modes found on the Yamaha. The Casio CT-S200's panel sustain feature is also easily activated by a press of a button on the interface. It is convenient to turn on or turn off the panel sustain. Casio also has a dedicated "my setup" button for a quick and easy recall of your settings. This allows you to retain any customised voices and rhythms that you came up with anytime. This keyboard also comes with a USB MIDI connection which allows the user to use Casio's free Chordana Player App available for both IOS and Android devices. Furthermore, Casio's compact and curvaceous design that comes in 3 different colours — white, red and black. The included optional carrying case and the lightweight of the keyboard also makes the CT-S200 more portable.
Unfortunately though, the CT-S200's sound is produced by Casio's previous generation AHL sound chip which is a pity as they should have used their AIX sound engine. Moreover, the 4W speaker amplification on the Casio loses out to the clear and loud sound of the Yamaha. Casio also tried to improve on their user interface with the CT-S range but it still falls short on the usability compared to the Yamaha. Selecting voices and rhythms is still such a painful process that people are actually paying extra for apps just to be able to select voices and rhythms quicker on their CT-S keyboards.
To sum up this keyboard,
Conclusion
In comparing the 2 keyboards, the CasioTone CT-S200 might seem to have the bigger advantage. However, it is undeniable that the high quality sound and the number of rhythms on the Yamaha PSR-E273 is a great advantage and important aspect to consider when making a decision. Overall, if the sound is more important to you, the PSR-E273 is a better choice. If looks, design, portability, MIDI connection and the app is more important to you, then the CT-S200 is a better choice.
I hope that this article has helped you with your decision in choosing between the CasioTone CT-S200 and the Yamaha PSR-E273. Do check out the other articles in this blog to find the best suited instrument for your needs and objectives.